Heart, Norton Childrens Hospital, Patient Stories

Sound of girl’s heartbeat put into stuffed animals for her family

When most people see Emily and Ethan Byler holding their stuffed animals, they don’t think anything of it. But if you stop and listen, there’s something special about Emily’s bear, Jessie, and Ethan’s dog, Gracie. Inside those furry frames is their baby sister Eva’s delicate heartbeat. Emily, 5, and Ethan, 4, dreamed of the day…

Read Full Story
Prevention & Wellness

Active parenting: Building good behavior instead of responding to bad times

As a mom of two healthy, happy and well-behaved young girls, I thought I had parenting all figured out. My girls go to bed on time (most nights), they pick up their toys (by the time I count to three) and they eat their veggies (after some serious convincing). As a wellness specialist with Norton…

Read Full Story
Gynecology, News, Norton Childrens Classes, Prevention & Wellness, Teens

When should your daughter start seeing a gynecologist?

You’ve been seeing the same gynecologist for years; you feel comfortable with her and trust her. Is she right for your 13-year-old daughter’s first gynecologic visit? Whether your daughter lets on or not, you can be sure she is nervous about her first visit. You may feel clueless about what’s going on with her. She…

Read Full Story
Norton Childrens Hospital

Time running out to see ‘Hope & Healing’ at the Frazier

Don’t miss your last chance to visit “Hope & Healing: Celebrating 125 Years of Norton Children’s Hospital,” a 4,200-square-foot exhibit at the Frazier History Museum! The exhibit closes Feb. 4, 2018.  Did you know that the children’s hospital was the second hospital in the nation to perform a pediatric heart transplant? That it was the first…

Read Full Story
Kentucky Poison Control Center, Norton Childrens Hospital, Teens

Teens putting selves, others at risk eating detergent in ‘pod challenge’

A new social media trend is causing alarm: Teens are scarfing down laundry detergent pods and posting videos and memes. The “pod challenge” usually involves a teen preparing to eat a pod, then sticking it in their mouth and reacting to it. The laundry detergent packets are shaken, stirred, even cooked. The challenge is designed to…

Read Full Story
Norton Childrens Medical Group, Prevention & Wellness, Teens

Time running out to satisfy new vaccine requirement

Many Kentucky kids will need additional vaccines before the 2018-2019 school year begins. Before the first day of classes, all students must have two doses of the hepatitis A vaccine. Although that may seem like plenty of time, parents should start scheduling appointments with their pediatricians now. “The two vaccines need to be given at…

Read Full Story
Norton Childrens Hospital, Prevention & Wellness

10 sledding safety tips

It’s the first snowfall of the season, and the Norton Children’s Hospital emergency department has already treated several sledding injuries. “Kids and adults can get seriously hurt — or even killed — if they’re not careful,” said Erika Janes with Norton Children’s Prevention & Wellness. If your family is hitting the hills, Janes offers the…

Read Full Story
Cancer, Childrens Hospital Foundation, Norton Childrens Hospital, Patient Stories

‘He thought his goals had been taken from him’

A child’s cancer diagnosis impacts the whole family. Below, Jacob Fields’ mom, Amanda, reflects on the weight of the disease, from her son doubting his future to the reality of remission. I knew something was wrong. I could feel it in my gut, but what I had no idea. The doctor looked at us and…

Read Full Story
Norton Childrens Hospital, Norton Childrens Medical Center, Norton Womens & Childrens Hospital, Surgery, Technology

Finding surgical care that’s right for your child

Choosing where to have your child’s surgery can be a daunting task. What kind of care is going to make your child and family feel safest, physically and emotionally? Technology advancements have made it possible for some procedures to be done at outpatient surgery centers. Costs can be lower at these types of locations. However,…

Read Full Story
Flu, Immediate Care Centers, Norton Childrens Medical Group

Is it a cold or the flu?

Signs and symptoms Influenza Cold Symptom onset Abrupt Gradual Fever Usually; lasts 3-4 days Rare Aches Usually; often severe Slight Chills Fairly common Uncommon Fatigue, weakness Usual Sometimes Sneezing Sometimes Common Stuffy nose Sometimes Common Sore throat Sometimes Common Chest discomfort, cough Common; can be severe Mild to moderate; hacking cough Headache Common Rare  …

Read Full Story
Gynecology, Norton Childrens Classes, Teens

What puberty looks like

Puberty is a process that happens slowly over several years. It can be hard to tell when it’s beginning or when to expect changes. The outward signs are the easiest to recognize and provide a guide to where a girl is in the process. The age ranges in this graphic are average and every girl…

Read Full Story
Prevention & Wellness

Leaving kids in cars is just as dangerous in the cold

We see the stories every year about kids being left in hot cars. But cold winter weather is just as dangerous for a child left in a vehicle. “Just like a child’s body can heat to a deadly temperature in a matter of minutes, the reverse effect can happen in the cold,” said Sharon Rengers,…

Read Full Story